New Asthma Self Care Guidelines Expected to Save the NHS Millions of Pounds

According to statistics released by Asthma U.K, approximately 4.5 million people in the UK receive treatment for Asthma annually, and it costs the NHS around £1 billion to treat and look after patients afflicted by this condition. Now the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance that sets out which medicines those suffering from Asthma should take in an effort to control and reduce symptoms and attacks.

This draft guidance could save the beleaguered NHS huge sums of money and resources, changing the way medicine is administered and allowing Asthma suffers to better control their illness too.

Cost Cutting and Saving Measures

With the new guidelines being evaluated, the idea is for the NHS to have a clear way forward and to be able to help health professionals take control of Asthma symptoms so that they can live life to the fullest. By doing so, they can also reduce some of the strain on the NHS and ensure that Asthma sufferers are well looked after at all times.

NICE has recommended that Asthma sufferers be given a 7 pence a day tablet earlier than currently administered. This drug may have been pushed through for FDA 510k clearance submission by a company such as http://www.fdathirdpartyreview.com/, and will be an effective and efficient treatment option that could save the NHS up to £3 million a year.

Asthma Treatments

Asthma should not be hard to treat and once diagnosed, patients are usually given a reliever inhaler to relieve the symptoms and a preventer inhaler if their symptoms are persistent. A combination inhaler may be provided if the patient suffers badly and on a recurring basis. Triggered by environmental elements, Asthma causes the airways to narrow, and if not treated it can be fatal.

Now NICE is proposing that a tablet called leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) be given before a combination inhaler is issued. Tests have proven that LTRAs are as effective as these inhalers and are far more cost effective, making them a preferable option.

Additionally, the draft guidelines can help healthcare professionals self-manage and can advise patients as to how they can adjust medicines as required, and know when to seek help if their treatment methods are not working.